DAVID COOK / CONTRIBUTOR

A $10 million gift from the Epstein Family Foundation is set to reshape how the University of San Diego supports military-connected students. Announced earlier this month, the donation is a call to action aimed at inspiring USD and its supporters to match the $10 million by raising at least $2 million per year over the next five years. The combined $20 million will fund scholarships, staff growth, new programming, and the construction of the Epstein Family Foundation Military-Connected Center for Excellence (MCCE). Nelson Chase, director of USD’s Military and Veteran Programs, explained the impact of the donation.

“The transformative gift from the Epstein Family Foundation means that the university and our philanthropic partners are committed to supporting and growing our military-connected student population,” Chase said. “This means an expanded veteran center and more support staff that help our students’ holistic well-being, academic success, benefits processing and compliance, and career development opportunities.”

USD is home to more than 900 military-connected students, including veterans, active-duty service members  and  students from military families. The new MCCE will enhance on-campus services, support students transitioning to civilian life and work as a hub to connect USD with the larger military population in San Diego. 

  The center will also host specialized events designed to help more students understand military experiences and build greater awareness around the lives and contributions of military-connected students. 

Zach Phillips, a first-year student in USD’s Naval ROTC program, claimed the gift is a big step forward in how military students  are  supported  on  campus.

“I think it’s really special that the Epstein family would give that money to the military program,” Phillips said. “It’s going to grow the program in ways that it hasn’t seen before and create a new culture of military students at USD.”

San Diego’s Naval ROTC unit is the largest in the nation, serving more than 200 students from five local universities: USD, San Diego State University, University of California, San Diego, Point Loma Nazarene and California State University, San Marcos. While the unit supports students from all universities, Phillips explained that the program operates out of a single building shared by officers, enlisted staff and administrators.

“This gift could add on to the space that they have and make their jobs easier,” Phillips said. “It would make everything run smoother.”

While ROTC students benefit from an existing support network, other military-connected students often face a different reality. Yannick Assilamehou, a USD senior whose father served in the Navy for two decades, explained how the gift resonates deeply for Silent Ranks, the families of those who serve — who haven’t always felt seen on campus.

“To be quite frank, I was not aware of the donation,” Assilamehou said. “But knowing that somebody is looking out for the Silent Ranks and the people truly dedicated to service at our school … it just feels good to feel seen without the politicking.” 

The University hopes the MCCE will help change that. In addition to facility upgrades and programming, the gift will fund scholarship opportunities, as well as new staff who will offer academic guidance, mental health counseling and career development services tailored to military-affiliated students. The center will also serve as a bridge between the University and San Diego’s broader military community. 

As part of the matching challenge, USD plans to raise $2 million each year for the next five years. University officials say they’ll reach that goal by strengthening relationships with current donors and foundations.

Whether through scholarships, expanded services or simply being seen, the Epstein Family Foundation’s donation will make a large impact on USD’s military-connected students.